Vegan Food Festival Comes to Atlantic City

Plus: Tequila and wine dinners in Old Bridge, Belvidere and Ocean Township.

Atlantic City, RZA from the Wu Tang Clan, and vegan food don’t seem like a natural combination at first glance, but if the size of the 2018 Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival is any indication, it works. The event has over 200 food and retail vendors, live music, shopping, a Saturday morning 10K race and RZA as the keynote speaker.

Held at the Showboat Hotel on the boardwalk, the event will span two days: Friday, July 13 from 12pm–8pm; and Saturday, July 14 11am–7pm. Friday will be dedicated entirely to a vegan food truck festival held outside the Showboat, with 20 participating trucks (if you buy tickets to Saturday, you can automatically get into Friday’s event). Saturday is the larger festival, kicking off with the morning’s 10K on the Boardwalk at 7:30am. In addition to live music and vegan retail, there will be speakers throughout the day (separate tickets required), including RZA but also Lauren Ornelas of the Food Empowerment Project and Erika J. Boyd of Detroit Vegan Soul. Talks will be given inside the mercifully air-conditioned hotel, and are staggered throughout the day, leaving you plenty of time to sample some of the myriad vegan eats from places like Freakin’ Vegan, Chocolate Calling, Gone Pie Vegan Bakery, and Atlantic City local Los Amigos.

Get more info and find tickets for the festival, individual speakers, or sign up for the 10K (there are 5K and 1-mile options, too) here.

Other events:

Tequila Pairing Dinner at Piccola ItaliaFriday, July 13, 7pm

If you haven’t made plans yet, you might try Piccola Italia’s Tequila Pairing Dinner this Friday in Ocean Township. Four courses, including tequila pairings, are $75 before tax and tip. Make reservations here. 837 West Park Ave, Ocean Township; 732-493 3090

Farm to Table Dinner at Four Sisters WineryFriday, July 13, 6pm–10pm

This is the first farm to table dinner for Four Sisters Winery in Belvidere. Promising a night of “open air” feasting bookended by wine and music, there will be four courses showcasing ingredients from local producers (grass-fed beef from Beaver Brook Ranch in Hope, and fresh mozzarella and other artisan cheeses from Fulper Family Homestead in Lambertville). The evening begins with wine and music at 6pm, followed by dinner and wine pairings (included in the $40 ticket), with more wine for sale and live music starting after dinner ends. You’re encouraged to buy early for al fresco deck seating (weather permitting). 783 County Road 519, Belvidere; 908-475-3671

A Riesling Dinner at Heirloom KitchenSunday, July 15, 6pm

Tickets are hefty—it’s $125 per person, tax and gratuity not included—but if you’re a Jersey foodie, this Sunday evening’s Riesling Dinner at Heirloom in Old Bridge might just be worth it. James Beard nominated chef David Viana and chef Rob Santello will make room in the Heirloom kitchen for Lauren Hirschberg, chef of Turtle + the Wolf in Montclair. Together, they’ll put together a six-course menu of seasonal, modern interpretations of German and Austrian-inspired dishes, each paired with either a Riesling or another appropriate pairing from the region. A $25 deposit is required per person in advance, and you can reserve up to six spots. 3853 Route 516, Old Bridge; 732-727-9444